logo
Thugs who perform violence over distant atrocities have no place here

Thugs who perform violence over distant atrocities have no place here

Imagine it's 1972. Thugs try to set alight the front door of Melbourne's old St Francis Catholic Church while 20 worshippers, including children, are inside.
Up the street, more hoodlums storm a Celtic pub, screaming that the IRA are terrorists and should be eradicated.
Or reverse it. Thugs try to set alight one of Melbourne's Protestant churches and a gang invades a British-style tavern in the CBD, terrorising patrons and chanting that British soldiers responsible for shooting civilians on Bloody Sunday in Derry should themselves be killed.
The shock and righteous outrage of Melburnians would be without end.
Happily, it never happened. Not in Melbourne.
Loading
Yet 1972 was the height of what were known as the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Innocents were dying in bombing campaigns and being massacred for protesting. There seemed no end to the fury and the suffering, fuelled by hatreds going back hundreds of years.
Melbourne's population at the time was still substantially tilted towards the descendants of British Protestants and Irish Catholics, both old and new.
Most of them, however, had left old grievances behind and were determined to live beyond the contemporary blood-letting, whatever their feelings about the Troubles.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US tariffs 'second fiddle' to overseas student caps
US tariffs 'second fiddle' to overseas student caps

The Advertiser

time9 hours ago

  • The Advertiser

US tariffs 'second fiddle' to overseas student caps

Australia's limits on international students could be a bigger issue than US tariffs, an expert has warned. President Donald Trump's tariffs have become arguably the biggest economic story of the year, with most Australian goods being hit with a 10 per cent levy while 50 per cent tariffs are imposed on steel and aluminium sent to the US. But the direct impact of the measures on Australia is relatively small as most exports tend to go to China, Japan and Korea, according to University of Sydney economics lecturer Luke Hartigan. The bigger issue may be one Australia has already inflicted on itself. "It's important to look at the larger scheme of things," Dr Hartigan told AAP. "The tariff exemption is important, but if we wanted to shoot ourselves in the foot, we would reduce the number of international students." "What's happening with our tariffs with the US is second fiddle." International student education was worth $51 billion for the Australian economy in 2023/24, but both political parties have vowed to slash numbers, with Labor already revealing a 270,000 cap from 2025 after more than 445,000 commenced study the year before. Dr Hartigan said international students were important for soft power. "They get to see Australian culture, they get to learn about Australia and they go back and speak favourably about Australia, so it's a very positive thing," he said. But most Australian political commentary has taken on the tariff issue, especially as Mr Trump is set to lift his tariff pause on July 9. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the government will continue negotiating for exemptions while keeping the national interest in mind, and dismissed Trump-style isolationist policies. However, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan has said the government has "waved the white flag" and called out Mr Albanese for failing to meet Mr Trump face-to-face. "There are countries dealing and talking to the new US president, but not ours ... it is embarrassing," Mr Hogan said. Australia could feel some indirect effects when the pause lifts, Dr Hartigan said. Tariffs on China could cause issues for Australia and uncertainty around the levies could play out in the stock market. Australia's limits on international students could be a bigger issue than US tariffs, an expert has warned. President Donald Trump's tariffs have become arguably the biggest economic story of the year, with most Australian goods being hit with a 10 per cent levy while 50 per cent tariffs are imposed on steel and aluminium sent to the US. But the direct impact of the measures on Australia is relatively small as most exports tend to go to China, Japan and Korea, according to University of Sydney economics lecturer Luke Hartigan. The bigger issue may be one Australia has already inflicted on itself. "It's important to look at the larger scheme of things," Dr Hartigan told AAP. "The tariff exemption is important, but if we wanted to shoot ourselves in the foot, we would reduce the number of international students." "What's happening with our tariffs with the US is second fiddle." International student education was worth $51 billion for the Australian economy in 2023/24, but both political parties have vowed to slash numbers, with Labor already revealing a 270,000 cap from 2025 after more than 445,000 commenced study the year before. Dr Hartigan said international students were important for soft power. "They get to see Australian culture, they get to learn about Australia and they go back and speak favourably about Australia, so it's a very positive thing," he said. But most Australian political commentary has taken on the tariff issue, especially as Mr Trump is set to lift his tariff pause on July 9. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the government will continue negotiating for exemptions while keeping the national interest in mind, and dismissed Trump-style isolationist policies. However, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan has said the government has "waved the white flag" and called out Mr Albanese for failing to meet Mr Trump face-to-face. "There are countries dealing and talking to the new US president, but not ours ... it is embarrassing," Mr Hogan said. Australia could feel some indirect effects when the pause lifts, Dr Hartigan said. Tariffs on China could cause issues for Australia and uncertainty around the levies could play out in the stock market. Australia's limits on international students could be a bigger issue than US tariffs, an expert has warned. President Donald Trump's tariffs have become arguably the biggest economic story of the year, with most Australian goods being hit with a 10 per cent levy while 50 per cent tariffs are imposed on steel and aluminium sent to the US. But the direct impact of the measures on Australia is relatively small as most exports tend to go to China, Japan and Korea, according to University of Sydney economics lecturer Luke Hartigan. The bigger issue may be one Australia has already inflicted on itself. "It's important to look at the larger scheme of things," Dr Hartigan told AAP. "The tariff exemption is important, but if we wanted to shoot ourselves in the foot, we would reduce the number of international students." "What's happening with our tariffs with the US is second fiddle." International student education was worth $51 billion for the Australian economy in 2023/24, but both political parties have vowed to slash numbers, with Labor already revealing a 270,000 cap from 2025 after more than 445,000 commenced study the year before. Dr Hartigan said international students were important for soft power. "They get to see Australian culture, they get to learn about Australia and they go back and speak favourably about Australia, so it's a very positive thing," he said. But most Australian political commentary has taken on the tariff issue, especially as Mr Trump is set to lift his tariff pause on July 9. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the government will continue negotiating for exemptions while keeping the national interest in mind, and dismissed Trump-style isolationist policies. However, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan has said the government has "waved the white flag" and called out Mr Albanese for failing to meet Mr Trump face-to-face. "There are countries dealing and talking to the new US president, but not ours ... it is embarrassing," Mr Hogan said. Australia could feel some indirect effects when the pause lifts, Dr Hartigan said. Tariffs on China could cause issues for Australia and uncertainty around the levies could play out in the stock market. Australia's limits on international students could be a bigger issue than US tariffs, an expert has warned. President Donald Trump's tariffs have become arguably the biggest economic story of the year, with most Australian goods being hit with a 10 per cent levy while 50 per cent tariffs are imposed on steel and aluminium sent to the US. But the direct impact of the measures on Australia is relatively small as most exports tend to go to China, Japan and Korea, according to University of Sydney economics lecturer Luke Hartigan. The bigger issue may be one Australia has already inflicted on itself. "It's important to look at the larger scheme of things," Dr Hartigan told AAP. "The tariff exemption is important, but if we wanted to shoot ourselves in the foot, we would reduce the number of international students." "What's happening with our tariffs with the US is second fiddle." International student education was worth $51 billion for the Australian economy in 2023/24, but both political parties have vowed to slash numbers, with Labor already revealing a 270,000 cap from 2025 after more than 445,000 commenced study the year before. Dr Hartigan said international students were important for soft power. "They get to see Australian culture, they get to learn about Australia and they go back and speak favourably about Australia, so it's a very positive thing," he said. But most Australian political commentary has taken on the tariff issue, especially as Mr Trump is set to lift his tariff pause on July 9. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the government will continue negotiating for exemptions while keeping the national interest in mind, and dismissed Trump-style isolationist policies. However, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan has said the government has "waved the white flag" and called out Mr Albanese for failing to meet Mr Trump face-to-face. "There are countries dealing and talking to the new US president, but not ours ... it is embarrassing," Mr Hogan said. Australia could feel some indirect effects when the pause lifts, Dr Hartigan said. Tariffs on China could cause issues for Australia and uncertainty around the levies could play out in the stock market.

US tariffs 'second fiddle' to overseas student caps
US tariffs 'second fiddle' to overseas student caps

Perth Now

time11 hours ago

  • Perth Now

US tariffs 'second fiddle' to overseas student caps

Australia's limits on international students could be a bigger issue than US tariffs, an expert has warned. President Donald Trump's tariffs have become arguably the biggest economic story of the year, with most Australian goods being hit with a 10 per cent levy while 50 per cent tariffs are imposed on steel and aluminium sent to the US. But the direct impact of the measures on Australia is relatively small as most exports tend to go to China, Japan and Korea, according to University of Sydney economics lecturer Luke Hartigan. The bigger issue may be one Australia has already inflicted on itself. "It's important to look at the larger scheme of things," Dr Hartigan told AAP. "The tariff exemption is important, but if we wanted to shoot ourselves in the foot, we would reduce the number of international students." "What's happening with our tariffs with the US is second fiddle." International student education was worth $51 billion for the Australian economy in 2023/24, but both political parties have vowed to slash numbers, with Labor already revealing a 270,000 cap from 2025 after more than 445,000 commenced study the year before. Dr Hartigan said international students were important for soft power. "They get to see Australian culture, they get to learn about Australia and they go back and speak favourably about Australia, so it's a very positive thing," he said. But most Australian political commentary has taken on the tariff issue, especially as Mr Trump is set to lift his tariff pause on July 9. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the government will continue negotiating for exemptions while keeping the national interest in mind, and dismissed Trump-style isolationist policies. However, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan has said the government has "waved the white flag" and called out Mr Albanese for failing to meet Mr Trump face-to-face. "There are countries dealing and talking to the new US president, but not ours ... it is embarrassing," Mr Hogan said. Australia could feel some indirect effects when the pause lifts, Dr Hartigan said. Tariffs on China could cause issues for Australia and uncertainty around the levies could play out in the stock market.

The rules of the crying game for politicians
The rules of the crying game for politicians

AU Financial Review

time16 hours ago

  • AU Financial Review

The rules of the crying game for politicians

The politics of tears are complicated. The jury is still out on the British chancellor's crying in the House of Commons after being rolled on welfare reforms intended to save the government from bankruptcy. Some shrug it off as confirmation of her humanity, others see it as emblematic of a disastrous Labour government unable to manage anything, including itself, while many secretly suspect she did it for the party room sympathy vote.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store